Esther Short - Vancouver, WA

In the 1800s, Henry Williamson claimed land that would later become Vancouver. He left for California, making David Gardner guardian. Gardner and a man named Amos Short got in a dispute, and Amos killed Gardner. Short claimed the land for himself after becoming a judge, but later died on a trip to San Francisco. His wife Esther Short successfully reclaimed part of the land, developing ferry routes along the property. The Esther Short neighborhood grew throughout the 1900s into the downtown cultural center of Vancouver.

The Clark County Historical Museum covers a new historical theme every month. Take a tour of the historical buildings in the Fort Vancouver National Site.

Aurora Gallery is the cultural art center of this neighborhood. Annual events include Three Days of Aloha celebrating Hawaii, and the summer concert series in Esther Short Park. Bands perform every year for packed crowds on an outdoor stage.

Esther Short is Vancouver's top nightlife hot spot. People from all over Vancouver and Portland head to Esther Short to enjoy the neighborhood's well-known restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Vancouver's central restaurant location on Main Street houses the best beer and burgers in town. Brickhouse has five dining areas for customers to munch on happy-hour specials. The restaurant has a main entrance with shuffleboard tables, a side entrance serving all age groups at booths, a bar section filled with couches, a downstairs area with pool tables and a front patio for outdoor seating. After you've chosen your spot, dive into the craft beer special of the day, or order up a barbecue pulled pork flatbread pizza. This restaurant has one of the only all-ages music venues in Vancouver, so drop in during one of their weekly open mics.

One of Esther Short's best restaurants doesn't even have a permanent location. The Mighty Bowl serves organic rice bowls out of a food truck. The truck drives to a new location every day, and hungry people walk from all over downtown to buy one of their meals. The Kiggins Bowl includes brown rice, black beans, cheese, sour cream, salsa, avocado and cilantro, topped with a chipotle sauce. There isn't any meat on the menu, but the bowls are always hearty and filling.

La Bottega caters to the fancier side of Esther Short dining. Located on Main Street, this Italian restaurant serves heaping plates of grilled Australian lamb chops and Oxtail Brasato. For dessert, try the classic cannoli or take home a set of handmade truffles. If you want something to do after work, head over to the restaurant for a wine tasting every Wednesday. Music plays an important role in Esther Short, and you're bound to find a band playing at least one of the venues downtown. Esther Short houses a popular Irish pub, Shanahan's Pub & Grill. Play pool, listen to live bands or throw back a few pints at this crowded bar. For something a bit different, visit Vancouver's oldest movie theater, Kiggins Theatre. The mom and pop shop shows independent and rare films, and has wine and beer on tap.

Driving, taking a bus, biking or walking are all valid ways to get around in Esther Short. Nearly all of the shops are in the downtown area, especially along Main Street.

The C-Tran bus system navigates around the most popular stops in downtown Vancouver, including the courthouse, schools and Esther Short Park. The bus stops every few blocks in the city center.

It's easy to hail a cab in downtown Vancouver. Since this neighborhood has the title of the most popular spot in Vancouver, taxis rush to local bars and restaurants on the weekend. Call Uber to get a custom ride, as they serve all of Vancouver.

Public parking is available in most areas of Esther Short, although limited options exist on weekends near Esther Short Park. Snag a spot early for free parking. If you don't catch a free spot in time, you have dozens of parking meter spots to use instead.

Every major motorway intersects this neighborhood. Take Interstate 5 to go north toward Seattle, or take the southbound lane to get to Portland. Highway 14 gets you to eastern Vancouver along the scenic Columbia River route. Interstate 205 connects straight to Portland International Airport from Esther Short.

Walking from one side of the neighborhood to the other takes less than one hour. You won't need a car in Esther Short, since all of your shopping and essentials are close together. Bicyclists have wide bike lanes to ride in on some of the highest traffic roads, such as McLoughlin Boulevard. Drivers move through the neighborhood slowly, so bicyclists and pedestrians are usually safe.

Esther Short has the oldest public square in Washington state at its central park. The neighborhood has three parks for residents to experience nature. These parks include Discovery Historic Loop Trail, Esther Short Park and Waterfront Renaissance Trail.

Esther Short Park was established in 1853, and is the oldest park in Vancouver. The park has a small playground for children, an outdoor stage and a water fountain. Check out the park during one of its annual events. Bands play for the park's summer concert series, and residents watch movies on a projector during warm months. The Vancouver Farmers Market takes place in the park from spring through fall. Watch a Christmas tree light up the sky every winter in the tree lighting ceremony.

If you want to jog along the scenic view of a riverbed, visit Waterfront Renaissance Trail, a five-mile trek alongside the Columbia River. The park does not have amenities such as playgrounds, but joggers and nature-lovers flock to this location year-round.

Esther Short's parks are free, but expect to pay for metered parking around the park. These parks welcome pets on leashes.

The cost of living in Esther Short is about 7 percent lower than the average cost of living in Portland. This makes the neighborhood a perfect alternative for people trying to save money.

Getting to the Vancouver city center won't cost you anything if you don't mind a walk. Taking the bus through downtown Vancouver costs about $1.75, while taking the bus into downtown Portland costs about $3.75. Rental rates for a one-bedroom residence in Esther Short range from about $800 to $1,000 per month. The median rent rate sits at $881 per month, about 7 percent less than the state median rate.

Despite its reputation as an entertainment hub, Esther Short's beer prices remain reasonable at about $4 for a bottle of craft beer at a restaurant.

Gas prices in Esther Short average out to about 7 percent higher than the national average. Its gas prices remain lower than the Washington state average.

Find every product you may need in Esther Short's downtown shopping center. In this neighborhood, everything happens on Main Street. Head over to these blocks for specialty stores and convenience food. Shop at high-value stores such as Willows clothing boutique near Highway 14. Virtually the entire neighborhood houses at least one store on every block.

With a name like Most Everything, that's exactly what you'll find in this iconic Esther Short store. If you've been on the hunt for that perfect vintage hat, you can find it at Most Everything. This store holds the title of the most fashionable shop in downtown Vancouver. Check out one of the store's seasonal fashion shows, including original designs by Vancouver native and Project Runway winner Seth Aaron.

Pamper your pet at Canine Utopia on Main Street. This store specializes in natural dog food with whole, organic ingredients. It even carries kosher food for animals. Find toys, treats, shampoos and beds catered to every pet's needs.

Shop for groceries at Safeway in Esther Short, or stop in at the Vancouver Farmers Market for locally grown produce and food vendors. Other grocery conveniences in the area include 39th Street Mini Mart, and Goody's Market.